Railway preference traffic signal control



March 11', 1941.

F. 'H.- RICHTERKESSING I 2,234,606

RAILWAY PREFERENCE TRAFFIC SIGNAL CONTROL Filed Dec. 19, 1927 'INVNTuR.FRANK 1'1- f/(fiTfR/(EJWNG BY MMX ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 11, 1941 UNITED! STATES ENT QEFI-QE-J to Nachodx & UnitedStates Signal Company, Incorporated, Louisville, Ky., a.corporation ofKentucky Application December l9, 1927,.S:erial;Noo241;114

10 .Claims.

My invention relatestothe vehicular control of an automatic trafficsignal, and is primarily intended for use at the intersection of twothoroughfares, on one oi-which is operated an electric street railway;

The main object of my inventionis to provide a system wherein theindications of a signal controlling intersecting traffic are normallydisplayed periodically; but, with the approach ofan electric streetcarwithin a selected zone, the periodic displayof 'thetrafic signalindications is interrupted and the proceed indication-displayed to thesaid street car to expedite thepreferential movement or the car until itpasses the intersection, whereupon the said traflic signalindications-are restored to their normalperiodical control.

The purpose-of such anarrangement is to permit street: cars to have acontinuous movement past points where signals controllingtraflicarelocated, thereby eliminating the objection of having the saidstreetcars make unnecessary stops at'these intersections, andresultantly eliminate the trafiic congestion that usuallyresults fromthe slow movement of electric cars.

Myinvention residesin a new and novel'combination, the'construction' andrelation of various electrically operated switches, circuits and otherparts hereinafter morefully described and disclosed in the drawing.

In the-drawing accompanying this specifica .tion; the figure is aschematic drawingshowing the electrical circuits of my system, and the.

relative location of thevarious control apparatus.

My invention is intended primarilyto be controlled by cars that areoperated with an overhead trolley wheel or current collector 3a,

mounted on a car by means of a trolleypoleT,

although it maybe controlled by vehicles that are operated by othermethods.

In the system shown in the figure, the numeral I represents a trolleywire. Positioned adjacent thistrolley wire I, are. trolley contactors:3, 4

and 5, which are normally insulated: therefrom,

butare electrically connected thereto when the current collector 3a.engages the trolley contactors 3, 4, and-5 respectively. Trolleycontactor 3- is mountedon the .trolley wire I and. is

placed within: a selectedproximity on. the. east 5 approach side of theintersection, represented in the drawing by N, S, E, W. Trolleycontactor 4 is placed a distance in advance of trolley contactor 3and-on the approach side of the intersection; equivalent tothe time" ofamber indica- 55 tion; Contactor 5 is mounted on the trolley wire I ontheziar sidezofzthe saidintersectiom At the- 1 intersection; thenumeral; 2 represents: a-a signal periodically displaying .Stop;Caution-and Proceeds indications for the 'W, EJeIectric linetrafiic;and; the N,Sintersectingtraffic; I

Theirelay R2: that. I .employ is provided-with: two toperatingwoilsnAand .D,:.and :each are ,energized;to. provide alternate operationssofitheccone tact arm AI. When a; car; passesnthei trolley. contactor3,. the coil. Ads; energized; and .the contact arm A I. .iso shiftednin.the direction; in-.- dicatedvbythe arrow.-.DA;. When' the; carzpasses.the. trolley contactor. 5, the :coil. D.. is energized; and the. contact.arm: Al :is. restored to itsnormalposition; Thecontact armiAl normallyengages; contact. AZ. and. is brought: into: this; position; throughthe, energization. ofethe. coil I); When the coilvAtis. energized:the-.-contactarm.Al.is. shiftedand: disengages. the. contact? AZLand'is. broughtinto. contact engagement with. the; contact DJThecontactiarmaAl is biasedtto. either. positionthrough thetogglespring.=Sl..

I. alsov employ: anelectrically operatedrelaya RI. which is provided.with .two operating coils B; and: Cand each are energized: to.providelalternatez operations. of the :contact armrBl. When :aicar:passes the. trolleyzcontactor. 4;: the 0011; B: isreneregized,. andthe-contact arm, Bl is shifted in; the directionv indicated :by thearrow DB1.- When: the car. passes. thettrolleywcontactore 5-,. the;coil-i0 is energized',.and..the contact arm BI is restored=;to itsnormalposition. The contactarm, Bl' of relay. RI normally engagescontact 3210f :relay; RI and. is brought into this contact engagementthrough theenergization of coil CF When the coil Bis energized, thecontact armzBl is shifted, and is brought out :ofcontactj' engagementwith the contact B2 and into contact engagement with the contact CI. Thecontact arm 31- is. biased to either position. through the togglespringS2.

Inmy system I also employ' a means for periodically controlling thedisplay of the in-. dications of the traffic signal; that is, when therelays RI and. R2 .arenot influenced through the approach of an electriccar, the indications of the traific signal. normally display in. a.predetermined sequence of a givencycle; This .is the same form ofsignaling now almost. uni-. versally accepted and used for controlling,vehicular traflic. Inthe system. shown inlthe. figure, a very simpleform of'controlisi-shown for the said periodical control of thetraffic..sig,- nal indications. This control consists of a. motor driventime element device, TS that is equipped to be displayed in the fourdirections.

with a series of segments and cams mechanically interconnected in amanner to control periodically and cyclically the circuits of the signalindications. Since the subject matter of my in vention is not directedto the construction of this device, the device is illustrated as havinga contact arm CA rotated by a motor M, which arm successively andcyclically engages contact segments GC, YC, RC and Y0.

The portion enclosed by the dotted line 2a in Fig. 1 is a symbolicrepresentation of a traific signal housing three decks of signalindications. Each deck is equipped with separate indications In theupper deck, the red lenses IR and 2R that face N and S and the greenlenses IG and 3G that face W and E, have a common light sourcerepresented by U. In the center deck the four lenses IY, 2Y, 3Y, and IYdisplay an amber or caution indication and have a common light sourcerepresented by V. Inthe lower deck the green lenses 4G and 5G that faceN and S, and the red lenses 3R and 4B that face E and W, have a commonlight source represented by Wu. For clarity, each of the three decks areshown in a plan view, and this must be taken into consideration when thesignal system is described so that the proper signal indications will begiven for the proper directions.

In .the system, the indications of the trafiic signal are normallydisplayed periodically, that is, each .signal indication displays a ce'rtain predetermined time before the display of another signalindication occurs, all of which occurs in a definite sequence of apredetermined cycle. Starting for instance at an arbitrarily selectedtime of the cycle, we have the display of a green indication for the W,E electric line traffic, and the display of a red indication for the N,S intersecting traffic; The circuit for these indications is under thecontrol of the segment GC of the automatic control device TS. Withreference to the drawing, it will be noted that these indications willcontinue to display until the contact arm CA disengages the segment GC.Upon disengaging the segment GC, the contact arm CA engages the segmentYC, resulting in a displayal of an amber or caution indication to alltrafiic,

to warn the trafiic that a change in the right-ofway is about to occur.It will also be noted that the amber indication will continue to displayuntil the contact arm CA disengages the segment Y0 and comes intocontact engagement with the cam segment RC, whereupon a reversal in thedisplay of the right-of-Way indications occurs; that is, a redindication is displayed for the W, E electric line traffic and a greenindication for the N, S intersecting trafiic. These indications willalso continue to display as long as the contact arm CA engages segmentRC, after which the arm CA will engage the segment Y0 and again displaythe amber indications. Thus, with relays RI and R2 in their normalpositions,

. the motor-driven time-element device TS provides acyclic display ofthe signal indications. When the current collector 3a engages thetrolley contactor 3, the coil A of relay R2 is energized, and thecontact arm AI is shifted in the direction shown by the arrow DA,bringing the contact arm AI into contact engagement with contact DI andout of contact engagement with contact A2. The circuit for theenergization of coil A of relay R2 is completed from the trolley wire I,through the current collector 3a, trolley contactor 3, wire b, coil A,wire 0, to ground 2G.

As soon as the current collector disengages the trolley contactor, thecoil A of relay R2 is deenergized, but the contact arm AI remains in theshifted position. As soon as the contact arm AI shifts, irrespectivethe, display of the indications previously afiected by the automaticcontrol device TS, amber indications are displayed to warn the trafficthat a change in the right-ofway is about to occur. The circuit for theamber indications is completed from the positive side, the line BXIIIIV,through wire contact arm BI of contact B2, wire m, contact arm AI,contact DI, wire 1' to lamp V, which lamp is a common light source forthe amber indications, through wire n2, wire n4, wire n, to the commonreturn of the line CXIIIIV. If, however, the motor-driven time-elementdevice TS was displaying the amber indications no immediate change wouldoccur in the display of the trafiic signal indications, since thedisplay of the amber would be continued under the influence of thecontrol affected by the movement of the trolley car. After the cartraverses a certain predetermined distance, the current collector 3aengages trolley contactor 4, whereupon the coil B of relay RI isenergized, and the contact arm BI is shifted into contact engagementwith contact CI and out of contact engagement with contact B2. Thisoperation of relay RI extinguishes the amber indications by opening thecircuit completed through the normally engaged contact B2 of relay RI,and displays a green indication for the W, E electric line traific and ared indication for the N, S intersecting tramc. With reference to thedrawing, it will be notedrthat these indications will continue todisplay under the influence of relay RI, irrespective of the operationof the automatic control device TS. Thus, the car having received aproceed indication now continues past the intersection. After the streetcar passes the intersection, the current collector 3a, engages trolleycontactor 5, whereupon the operating coils C of relay RI and D of relayR2 are energized, and the contact arms BI and AI, respectively, arerestored to their normal positions. The circuit for energizing the coilsC and D is completed from the trolley wire I, through the currentcollector 3a, trolley contactor 5, wire K, operating coil 0, wire Q, toground 2G. It will also be noted that the wire it connects two circuits,one as described, and the other thru wire r, operating coil D, wire P toground 2G. Thus, since the energization of coils C and D restored therelays RI and R2 to normal, the display-of the trafiic signalindications is restored to the automatic control device TS.

.There are, of course, modifications and arrangements that may be madefrom those shown in the above disclosure, which will still fall withinthe scope of my invention.

I claim: I 1. In a trafiic signaling system arranged at the intersectionof a main highway and crossroad for regulating traffic, the combinationwith a visual signal comprising a proceed indication, a cautionindication and a stop indication for each thoroughfare, means for theroutine display of said traffic indications to the said thoroughfares,trolley contactors to be engaged by a car in said highway approachingand clearing the intersection, means for divesting the first saidmeansof its normal function and energizing the said caution indication forboth highways when one trolley contactor is engaged, and means todivestthe second said means of its function and energize the saidproceeda'indication on-the main highway; and the, said-stop indicationonthe tion and energizing the said caution indication for both trafii'clanes when oneof said trailic responsive devices is actuated, and meansto divest the second. said means of its function and energize .the saidproceedindication on the traffic lane containing the said traificresponsive devices and'th'e said stop indication on the other trafficlane when a second trafiic responsive deviceis actuated; and means,operable by a vehicle on the said one lane, for restoring theroutinedisplay of. the indications by the'first named means.

3. In a street intersection traiiic control signal system, in which apreferred street having an electrical vehicle thereon operating from acurrent supply feeder may take the right-of-way indication to theexclusion of the other street, including a plurality of signal lamps;signal timer means for normally cyclically displaying said signals toalternately give the right-of-way indication to the several streets; avehicle current collector responsive device on the preferred street;super control means connected to be operated by the current collectorresponsive device when actuated by a vehicle on the preferred street torender said signal timer means ineffective to normally display saidSignals and to give a right-of-way indication to the preferred street;and means operated by the said vehicle on the preferred street torestore the normal display of the signals by the said signal timermeans.

4. A trafiic signaling system for regulating traffic on interferingtraffic lanes, said system including a right-of-way indication for eachof the said traffic lanes, switch means, circuit connections between thesaid switch means and the right-of-way indications, whereby the saidswitch means is rendered effective to alternately and repeatedlyenergize the said circuits, and means actuated by a vehicle on one ofthe said traific lanes and approaching the said right-of-way indicatingdevice to alter said electrical connecting means so that the said switchmeans is rendered inefiective, and the circuit connecting therightof-way indication on the last said trafiic lane is continuouslyenergized, and a second means operable by the vehicle on the last saidtraiiic lane to restore the said indications to their normal control.

5. In a trafiic signaling system for interfering traffic lanes having,means for displaying rightof-way signal indications; signal-timer meansfor normally cyclically-displaying said right-ofway indicationssuccessively to the several trafiic lanes; a first vehicle-responsivedevice on one of said lanes; super control-means, operable by responseof said first device to a vehicle on said one lane, to render said timermeans inefiective to display; normally said indications and to give theright-of-way indication tothe said one lane; a secondvehicle-responsive--device on the said one lane; and control-means,operable by re-'- sponse of the said second device to a vehicle on thesaid one lane, to render the said timer means effective to displaynormally said indications.

6; Aright-of-way indicating device for interfering traffic lanes; aconstantly operating'device,- a controller means driven by theconstantly operating device; circuit connections between thesaidcontroller and-right-of-way-indicating device, for normally cyclicallyshifting said rightof-way indication from one trafiiclane to theotheno-ther circuit connections to said right-of way indicating devicefor a constant display of the right-of-way indication to one of the saidtraffic lanes, relay means activated loy-avehicle for shifting from thefirst named circuit connections to the second namedcircuit' connectionswhereby the normal cyclic display of the'rightof-way indications isinterrupted and therightof-way indication-to the last mentioned-trafiic'lane is maintained, and means affected bythe' ve-- hicle for restoringthe said relay means: to normal whereby thenormalcyclic display of therightof-way indication is restored.

7. A traffic signaling system i for regulating traffic-on interferingtraffic lanes, said system including a right-of-way indicating devicefor each of the said traffic lanes, a constantly operating device, acontroller means driven by the said constantly operating device, circuitconnections between the said controller and right-of-way indicatingdevice for normally cyclically shifting said right-of-way indicationsfrom one trafiic lane to the other, means affected by a vehicleapproaching the right-of-way indicating device on one of the saidtraflic lanes to interrupt the normal cyclic display of the saidright-of-Way indications and prolong the energization of theright-of-way indication on the last said traffic lane, and meansaffected subsequently by the vehicle for restoring the normal cyclicdisplay of the said right-of-way indications.

8. A traffic-signaling system for interfering traffic lanes, comprising,stop and go signals for each of the said lanes; timer means having aplurality of switches operating in accordance with a predeterminedcycle; circuit connections between the said switches and the saidindications said indications by the said switches and establishing thesaid constant display of the go signal on the one lane and the stopindications on all other lanes; a second vehicle-actuateddevice for thesaid one lane; and means operated by the actuation of the said secondvehicle-actuated die-- vice for shifting from the said second namedconnections to the said first named connections for restoring the cyclicdisplay of the said indications by the said switches.

9. A traffic control system for intersecting traffic-lanes having, incombination, a first signaling-means for directing trafl'ic to proceedon one lane and for restraining tramc on the intersecting lane; a secondsignaling-means for directing trafiic to proceed on the saidintersecting lane and for restraining traffic on the said one lane;operating circuits for the said first and second signaling means; signaltimer-means operatively associated with the said operating circuits foralternately and repeatedly opening and closing the said circuits,thereby to energize alternately and repeatedly the said first and secondsignaling means; an auxiliary normally-open circuit for the said firstsignaling means; a traific-actuated device in the said one lane; relaymeans, operable in response to an actuation of the said traffic-actuateddevice, for opening the said operatin circuits and closing the saidauxiliary circuit, thereby to discontinue the alternate and repeatedenergization of the said first and second signaling -means by the saidtimer means, and to energize directly the said first signaling means;and means operable to restore the alternate and repeated energization ofthe said first and second signaling means by the said timer means.

10. A traflic control system for intersecting trafiic-lanes having, incombination, a first signaling-means for directing trafiic to proceed onone lane and for restraining traific on the intersecting lane; a secondsignaling-means for directing trafiic to proceed on the saidintersecting lane and for restraining trafllc on the said one lane;operating circuits for the said first and second signaling means; signaltimer-means operatively associated with the said operating circuits foralternately and repeatedly opening and closing the said circuits,thereby to energize alternately and repeatedly the said first and secondsignaling means; an auxiliary normally-open circuit for the said firstsignaling means; a first traffic-actuated device in the said one laneconstructed and arranged to be actuated by a vehicle approaching theintersection; relay means, operable in response to an actuation of thesaid first traffic-actuated device, for opening the said operatincircuits and closing the said auxiliary circuit, thereby to discontinuethe alternate and repeated energization of the said first and secondsignaling means by the said timer means, and to energize directly thesaid first signaling means; a second traflic-actuated device in the saidone lane adjacent the said intersection; and means operable in responseto an actuation of the said second traflic-actuated device, forrestoring the alternate and repeated energization of the said first andsecond signaling means by the said timer means.

FRANK H. RICH'I'ERKE'SSING.

